If you are looking for some engaging and fun kindergarten lights and shadows activities, you are at the right place. We can’t wait to share with you some great ideas, activities, and printables to make this week the best week ever. Can you tell that it is our favorite week of the entire year?!
Kindergarten Lights and Shadows Activities
Kindergarten and first-grade teachers, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of light and shadows, providing you with a comprehensive 5-day lesson plan to captivate your young learners. Read on to discover how you can make learning about light and shadows a memorable and enjoyable experience for your students.
Day 1: What is light?
On the first day, introduce the concept of light to your kindergarteners. Engage them with simple explanations and hands-on activities. We have to start by asking our little learners What is Light? I know this seems like a simple concept, but to a five-year-old, perhaps it is not. Check out the answers my students gave me one year.
This conversation is the best way a teacher can grasp what their learners know about light and how to lead further discussions and investigations for the remaining week.
Day 2: What does light look like?
Move on to the visual aspect of light on the second day. Encourage creativity by letting your students express what they think light looks like. The Light and Shadow Science Unit provides you with detailed lesson plans, helpful tips, and book suggestions to keep your learners actively participating.
One of my favorite activities occurs on this day. We start by asking my students to write and draw what they think light looks like on the left side. Next, we conducted an awesome experiment to show how light breaks down into the colors of the rainbow. You can do this with prisms, light-refracting glasses, or with books. Once we show students what light looks like, we have them draw and write what they know light looks like on the right side.
Day 3: What is a shadow?
As the week progresses, delve into the intriguing world of shadows on day three. Explore the concept of shadows through engaging activities and discussions. Your students will be excited to learn about the mysterious shapes that shadows can create. We have links to fun hand puppet shows, and shadow activities to discover more about shadows in hands-on ways. We want students to learn that shadows are formed when light is blocked.
We love to use these visual discrimination pieces to show what shadows of objects may look like. This is a great sorting activity, even for your younger learners.
Day 4: What makes a shadow?
On the fourth day, take a closer look at what causes shadows. Conduct hands-on experiments and let your students explore different objects and light sources.
You can see this Shadow Prediction experiment is prepped and ready to go. I have 6 groups ready, one for each table. We make our predictions with a crayon first. Now, we have to get started on our experiment.
Inside each basket is a mini flashlight, and one object from the paper such as glue, cups, pencils, and so on. We have emergency flashlights at school for if/when the power goes out or an emergency occurs. You can grab similar ones here.
We have to block out our school windows so we can cast shadows. We don’t leave this up long, but just long enough for shadow-making. Now, we cast our shadows to test our items.
Day 5: Discovering Lights and Shadows
Wrap up the week with a day dedicated to discovering the magic of lights and shadows. Bring together all the concepts learned throughout the week and encourage your students to showcase their newfound knowledge. The Light and Shadow Science Unit’s 60+ page guide ensures that you have everything you need for a successful and engaging lesson. Celebrate the week’s accomplishments and spark a lasting curiosity about the wonders of light and shadows.
One perfect kindergarten lights and shadows activity is playing with shadow blockers, as shown above. <y students would do this for HOURS if I could let them. It is simple with colorful construction paper glued to craft sticks and flashlights.
Another super engaging kindergarten lights and shadow activity is shadow dancing. It is simple. Place a large sheet up. Students sit on one side of the sheet and place a bright light on the other side of the sheet. Play some music and let a student or two shadow dance for their student audience.
Wrapping Lights and Shadows Up
With the Light and Shadow Science Unit, teaching about light and shadows becomes a breeze. Elevate your kindergarten science curriculum with these comprehensive lesson plans and hands-on activities that enhance the learning experience. Ignite a sense of wonder and curiosity in your young learners, making science a favorite subject from the very beginning. Order your Light and Shadow Science Unit today and watch your students light up with enthusiasm for learning!
Lights and Shadows Learning Connections Here
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Groundhug Day$4.00
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Groundhog Math Activities$2.00
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Groundhog ELA Activities$4.00
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Groundhog Day$4.00
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Light and Shadow Science Discovery Unit$7.00
Carrie H says
I loved this entire post! I am inspired now! And yes, thanks for the freebie!
Terri Brown says
Thank you for this great freebie. All of these activities are great! I got here from your guest post on Marsha's blog. I'm following by email and looking forward to more posts. (I'm also going over to follow you on TPT.)
Terri
Jennifer White @ First Grade Blue SKies says
So cute!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue Skies
Taylor D says
How neat!
Kristie says
Wow!! This is sooo neat!
Kim Y says
I loved all the ideas! You are a great blogger
Roberta says
I LOVE the 20 questions activity. Cannot wait to use it with my kinders this week!